House Speaker Lawerence Denney says the leadership-backed resolution introduced Tuesday to zero-fund raises for state employees next year is more about process than a disagreement that could stall budget writing and delay adjournment, reports Idaho Statesman reporter Dan Popkey; you can read his full post here. Denney told Popkey he wants a hearing in the House Commerce Committee, and said, "The rumblings that we had in the caucus were when we brought up the budget everybody goes, 'Hey, we haven't had our say yet.'"

However, it was the leadership of both houses - including Denney - who opted not to convene the House and Senate commerce committees as the Joint CEC Committee this year for hearings on state employee pay, and instead just hand that decision off to JFAC; the Joint CEC (Change in Employee Compensation) Committee hasn't met since 2008.